New beginner projects

[rrgg126]

So I finally went to a nursery and bought some practice shrubs. Here they are and please let me know what you guys think and any feedback is appreciated!

Just to show what my current projects are right now:

Boxwood 'Green Mountain'
Bought from nursery, repotted/shaped yesterday


Juniper Procumbens
Bought from nursery, repotted/shaped yesterday


Coprosma 'Mirror Plant'
Bought from home depot, repotted/shaped yesterday

 

[marcosolo]

If anything lives I really will be surprised...Not trying to be too harsh here, but pruning and repotting in the middle of SUMMER is a NO-NO.....Keep your fingers crossed and pray to the tree gods, because you'll need it....Early Spring is the ideal time to repot most species, just as a reminder......Also, DO NOT water the hell out of these things, just whenever the soil is dry, especially dry when it comes to that juniper in the deep pot....

 

[rrgg126]

If anything lives I really will be surprised...Not trying to be too harsh here, but pruning and repotting in the middle of SUMMER is a NO-NO.....Keep your fingers crossed and pray to the tree gods, because you'll need it....Early Spring is the ideal time to repot most species, just as a reminder......Also, DO NOT water the hell out of these things, just whenever the soil is dry, especially dry when it comes to that juniper in the deep pot....

thanks for the feedback! i thought that since these shrubs dont have a dormant period it would be ok to prune and repot. do you think adding root fertilizer would encourage faster root growth or should i just stick em in the shade?

 

[FrankP999]

No fertilizer. Shade is appropriate for a couple of weeks.

Also, it helps if you put your location in your profile.

Good luck

 

[rrgg126]

No fertilizer. Shade is appropriate for a couple of weeks.

Also, it helps if you put your location in your profile.

Good luck

thanks just updated. northern california.

 

[k2bonsai]

I have never had a problem repotting or prunning a buxus in summer, just give it a little shade for a week or two as mentioned previously.

 

[jk_lewis]

Just to add to the doom and gloom we have been heaping on you, these plants all are very young and will need to do a LOT of growing before truly becoming "bonsai." That's another reason it would have been better to leave them in their original nursery pots.

Bonsai isn't a game of instant gratification. It takes time to make one -- sometimes quite a bit of it.

But to help you dig out of all the stuff the we've piled on, you're not alone. Lots of us have started out wanting it all -- NOW! -- and ending up being disappointed.

When it comes time to replace one (or all) of these, you might consider spending the same amount of money on ONE plant, rather than buying three tiny plants. But before you do, read up on the process of bonsai. Check some books out of your local library.

 

[Poink88]

The good thing is that you made mistakes while owning these young and cheaper plants. Learn from them so you may be better prepared for the next (hopefully better) tree(s).

Bonsai takes time but you can save lots of it if you start with better stock. Really good ones can cost lots of money but (like time) it doesn't have to be. There are even free ones out there if you are willing to wait and do some work. For example, I collect advertised free landscape plants (shrubs, hedges, bushes, etc.) through Craigslist. Believe me, I won't be able to afford some of it if being sold on bonsai nurseries.

In the same token, properly grown & trained pre-bonsai from reputable bonsai nurseries/vendors are hard to beat if you can afford them.

We all have different approach (and budget) so choose what works best for you. Good luck and enjoy the hobby!